三国演义英文版-第5部分

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〃I　have　never　wronged　the　people　to　the　value　of　a　single　coin：　Then　where　is　a　bribe　to　e　from？〃
Next　day　the　inspector　had　the　minor　officials　before　him　and　forced　them　to　bear　witness　that　their　master　had　oppressed　the　people。　Liu　Bei　time　after　time　went　to　rebut　this　charge；　but　the　doorkeepers　drove　him　away　and　he　could　not　enter。
Now　Zhang　Fei　had　been　all　day　drowning　his　sorrow　in　wine　and　had　drunk　far　too　much。　Calling　for　his　horse　he　rode　out　past　the　lodging　of　the　inspector；　and　at　the　gate　saw　a　small　crowd　of　white…haired　people　weeping　bitterly。　He　asked　why。
They　said；　〃The　inspector　has　pelled　the　underlings　to　bear　false　witness　against　our　magistrate；　with　the　desire　to　injure　the　virtuous　Liu　Bei。　We　came　to　beg　mercy　for　him　but　are　not　permitted　to　enter。　Moreover；　we　have　been　beaten　by　the　doorkeepers。〃
This　provoked　the　irascible　and　half　intoxicated　Zhang　Fei　to　fury。　His　eyes　opened　wide　until　they　became　circles；　he　ground　his　teeth；　in　a　moment　he　was　off　his　steed；　had　forced　his　way　past　the　scared　doorkeepers　into　the　building；　and　was　in　the　rear　apartments。　There　he　saw　Imperial　Inspector　Du　Biao　sitting　on　high　with　the　official　underlings　in　bonds　at　his　feet。
〃Oppressor　of　the　people；　robber！〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。　〃Do　you　know　me？〃
But　before　the　inspector　could　reply；　Zhang　Fei　had　had　him　by　the　hair　and　had　dragged　him　down。　Another　moment　he　was　outside　and　firmly　lashed　to　the　hitching　post　in　front　of　the　building。　Then　breaking　off　a　switch　from　a　willow　tree；　Zhang　Fei　gave　his　victim　a　severe　thrashing；　only　staying　his　hand　when　the　tenth　switch　was　too　short　to　strike　with。
Liu　Bei　was　sitting　alone；　muning　with　his　sorrow；　when　he　heard　a　shouting　before　his　door。　He　asked　what　the　matter　was。
They　told　him；　〃General　Zhang　Fei　had　bound　somebody　to　a　post　and　was　thrashing　him！〃
Hastily　going　outside；　Liu　Bei　saw　who　the　unhappy　victim　was　and　asked　Zhang　Fei　the　reason。
〃If　we　do　not　beat　this　sort　of　wretch　to　death；　what　may　we　expect？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃Noble　Sir；　save　me！〃　cried　the　inspector。
Now　Liu　Bei　had　always　been　kindly　and　gracious；　wherefore　he　bade　his　brother　release　the　officer　and　go　his　way。
Then　Guan　Yu　came　up；　saying；　〃Brother；　after　your　magnificent　services　you　only　got　this　petty　post；　and　even　here　you　have　been　insulted　by　this　fellow。　A　thorn　bush　is　no　place　for　a　phoenix。　Let　us　slay　this　fellow；　leave　here；　and　go　home　till　we　can　evolve　a　bigger　scheme。〃
Liu　Bei　contented　himself　with　hanging　the　official　seal　about　the　inspector's　neck；　saying；　〃If　I　hear　that　you　injure　the　people；　I　will　assuredly　kill　you。　I　now　spare　your　life；　and　I　return　to　you　the　seal。　We　are　going。〃
The　inspector　went　to　the　governor　of　Dingzhou　and　plained；　and　orders　were　issued　for　the　arrest　of　the　brothers；　but　they　got　away　to　Daizhou　and　sought　refuge　with　Liu　Hu；　who　sheltered　them　because　of　Liu　Bei's　noble　birth。

＇e＇　Two　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants
By　this　time　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants　had　everything　in　their　hands；　and　they　put　to　death　all　who　did　not　stand　in　with　them。　From　every　officer　who　had　helped　to　put　down　the　rebels　they　demanded　presents；　and　if　these　were　not　forthing；　he　was　removed　from　office。　Imperial　manders　Huangfu　Song　and　Zhu　Jun　both　fell　victims　to　these　intrigues　and　were　deprived　from　offices；　while　on　the　other　hand　the　eunuchs　received　the　highest　honors　and　rewards。　Thirteen　eunuchs　were　ennobled；　including　Zhao　Zhong*　who　was　added　to　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　Zhang　Rang*　possessed　most　of　the　prize　farms　around　the　capital。　The　government　grew　worse　and　worse；　and　everyone　was　irritated。
Rebellions　broke　out　in　Changsha　led　by　Ou　Xing；　and　in　Yuyang　led　by　Zhang　Ju　and　Zhang　Chun。　Memorials　were　sent　up　in　number　as　snow　flakes　in　winter；　but　the　Ten　suppressed　them　all。　One　day　the　Emperor　was　at　a　feast　in　one　of　the　gardens　with　the　Ten；　when　Court　Counselor　Liu　Tao　suddenly　appeared　showing　very　great　distress。　The　Emperor　asked　what　the　matter　was。
〃Sire；　how　can　you　be　feasting　with　these　when　the　empire　is　at　the　last　gasp？〃　said　Liu　Tao。
〃All　is　well；〃　said　the　Emperor。　〃Where　is　anything　wrong？〃
Said　Liu　Tao；　〃Robbers　swarm　on　all　sides　and　plunder　the　cities。　And　all　is　the　fault　of　the　Ten　Eunuchs　who　sell　offices　and　injure　the　people；　oppress　loyal　officials　and　deceive　their　superiors。　All　virtuous　ones　have　left　the　services　and　returned　to　their　places；　and　are　building　and　guarding　their　positions。　More　regional　offices　have　been　sought　than　imperial　appointments。　Central　authority　is　being　undermined　by　local　interests。　Misfortune　is　before　our　very　eyes！〃
At　this　the　eunuchs　pulled　off　their　hats　and　threw　themselves　at　their　master's　feet。
〃If　Minister　Liu　Tao　disapproves　of　us；〃　they　said；　〃we　are　in　danger。　We　pray　that　our　lives　be　spared　and　we　may　go　to　our　farms。　We　yield　our　property　to　help　defray　military　expenses。〃
And　they　wept　bitterly。
The　Emperor　turned　angrily　to　Liu　Tao；　saying；　〃You　also　have　servants：　Why　can't　you　bear　with　mine？〃
And　thereupon　the　Emperor　called　to　the　guards　to　eject　Liu　Tao　and　put　him　to　death。
Liu　Tao　cried　aloud；　〃My　death　matters　nothing。　The　pity　is　that　Han　Dynasty；　after　four　centuries　of　reign；　is　falling　fast！〃
The　guards　hustled　him　away　and　were　just　about　to　carry　out　the　Emperor's　order　when　a　minister　stopped　them；　shouting；　〃Strike　not！　Wait　till　I　have　spoken　with　His　Majesty。〃
It　was　the　Minister　of　the　Interior；　Chen　Dan。　He　went　in　to　the　Emperor；　to　whom　he　said；　〃For　what　fault　is　Counselor　Liu　Tao　to　be　put　to　death？〃
〃He　has　vilified　my　servants　and　has　insulted　me；〃　said　the　Emperor。
〃All　the　empire　would　eat　the　flesh　of　the　eunuchs　if　they　could；　and　yet；　Sire；　you　respect　them　as　if　they　were　your　parents。　They　have　no　merit；　but　they　are　created　nobles。　Moreover；　Feng　Xu　was　in　league　with　the　Yellow　Scarves。　Unless　Your　Majesty　looks　to　it；　the　state　will　crumble！〃
〃There　was　no　proof　against　Feng　Xu；〃　replied　the　Emperor。　〃About　the　Ten　Eunuchs；　are　there　none　faithful　among　them？〃
Chen　Dan　beat　his　forehead　on　the　steps　of　the　throne　and　did　not　desist　from　remonstrance。　Then　the　Emperor　grew　angry　and　manded　his　removal　and　imprisonment　with　Liu　Tao。　That　night　Liu　Tao　and　Chen　Dan　were　murdered。
Then　the　eunuchs　sent　a　forged　edict　to　Sun　Jian　making　him　Governor　of　Changsha；　with　orders　to　suppress　the　rebellion　of　Ou　Xing。　In　less　than　two　months　Sun　Jian　reported　the　county　all　tranquil。　For　this　he　was　created　Lord　of　Wucheng。
Further；　Liu　Yu　was　made　Imperial　Protector　of　Youzhou　to　move　against　Yuyang　and　suppress　Zhang　Ju　and　Zhang　Chun。　Liu　Hu　of　Daizhou　remended　Liu　Bei　to　Liu　Yu。　Liu　Yu　weled　Liu　Bei　and　gave　him　rank　of　mander　and　sent　him　against　the　rebels。　He　fought　with　and　worsted　them　and　entirely　broke　their　spirit。　Zhang　Chun　was　cruel；　and　his　leaders　turned　against　him。　One　of　his　officers　then　slew　him　and　brought　in　his　head；　after　which　the　others　submitted。　The　other　leader　Zhang　Ju　saw　that　all　was　lost　and　killed　himself。
Yuyang　being　now　tranquil；　Liu　Bei's　services　were　reported　to　the　Throne；　and　he　received　full　pardon　for　the　insult　to　the　imperial　inspector。　He　was　made　Deputy　Magistrate　of　Xiami；　then　manding　Officer　of　Gaotang。　Then　Gongsun　Zan　praised　Liu　Bei's　former　services；　and　he　was　promoted　to　Magistrate　of　Pingyuan。　This　place　was　very　prosperous；　and　Liu　Bei　recovered　something　of　his　old　manner　before　the　days　of　adversity。　Liu　Yu　also　received　preferment　and　was　promoted　to　Grand　mander。

＇e＇　Regent　Marshal　was　the　highest　military　office；　while　Imperial　Guardian　highest　civilian　office。
In　the　summer　of　the　six　year　of　Central　Stability　（AD　189）；　Emperor　Ling　became　seriously　ill　and　summoned　He　Jin　into　the　Palace　to　arrange　for　the　future。　He　Jin　had　sprung　from　a　humble　family　of　butchers；　but　his　sister　had　bee　a　concubine　of　rank　and　borne　a　son　to　the　Emperor；　named　Liu　Bian。　After　this　she　became　Empress　He；　and　He　Jin　became　the　powerful　Regent　Marshal*。
The　Emperor　had　also　greatly　loved　a　beautiful　girl；　Lady　Wang；　who　had　borne　him　a　son　named　Liu　Xian。　Empress　He　had　poisoned　Lady　Wang　from　jealousy；　and　the　baby　had　been　given　into　the　care　of　Empress　Dong；　who　was　the　mother　of　Emperor　Ling。　Lady　Dong　was　the　wife　of　Liu　Chang；　Lord　of　Jiedu。　As　time　went　on　and　the　Emperor　Huan　had　no　son　of　his　own；　he　adopted　the　son　of　Liu　Chang；　who　succeeded　as　the　Emperor　Ling。　After　his　accession；　Emperor　Ling　had　taken　his　own　mother　into　the　Palace　to　live　and　had　conferred　upon　her　the　title　of　Empress　Dowager。
Empress　Dong　had　always　tried　to　persuade　her　son　to　name　Liu　Xian　as　the　Heir　Apparent；　and　in　fact　the　Emperor　greatly　loved　the　boy　and　was　disposed　to　do　as　his　mother　desired。　When　his　end　was　near；　one　of　the　eunuchs；　Jian　Shuo；　said；　〃If　Liu　Xian　is　to　succeed；　He　Jin　must　be　killed　to　prevent　countermoves。〃
The　Emperor　saw　this　too。　He　placed　Jian　Shuo　in　mand　of　the　eight　armies　of　the　West　Garden　in　order　to　check　Liu　Bian's　supporters。　And　he　summoned　He　Jin　to　e　to　him。
But　at　the　very　gate　of　the　Forbidden　City；　He　Jin　was　warned　of　his　danger　by　mander　Pan　Yin　who　said；　〃This　must　be　a　trap　of　Jian　Shuo　to　destroy　you！〃
He　Jin　rushed　back　to　his　quarters　and　called　many　of　the　ministers　to　his　side；　and　they　met　to　consider　how　to　put　the　eunuchs　to　death。
At　this　assembly　a　man　spoke　against　the　plot；　〃The　influence　of　the　eunuchs　dates　back　a　century　and　a　half；　during　the　reigns　of　Emperors　Chong　and　Zhi。　It　has　spread　like　a　noxious　weed　in　all　directions。　How　can　we　hope　to　destroy　it？　Above　all　keep　this　plot　secret；　or　our　whole　clans　will　be　exterminated。〃
He　Jin　eyed　down　and　saw　General　of　Military　Standards　Cao　Cao。
He　Jin　was　very　angry　at　this　speech　and　cried；　〃What　do　inferiors　like　you　know　of　the　ways　of　government？〃
And　in　the　midst　of　the　confusion　Pan　Yin　came　to　say：　〃The　Emperor　is　no　more。　The　eunuchs　have　decided　to　keep　the　death　a　secret　and　forge　a　mand　to　the　Regent　Marshal　to　e　into　the　Palace　to　settle　the　succession。　Meanwhile　to　prevent　trouble　they　have　inscribed　the　name　of　Prince　Xian　on　the　roll。〃
And　as　Pan　Yin　finished　speaking；　the　edict　arrived　summoning　He　Jin。
〃The　matter　for　the　moment　is　to　set　up　the　rightful　heir；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃We　can　deal　with　the　traitors　later。〃
〃Who　dare　to　join　me　in　supporting　the　rightful　heir………Prince　Bian？〃　asked　He　Jin；　the　Regent　Marshal。
At　once　one　stood　forward；　crying；　〃Give　me　five　thousand　veterans；　and　we　will　break　into　the　Palace；　set　up　the　true　heir；　slay　the　eunuchs；　and　sweep　clean　the　government！　Then　peace　will　e　to　the　empire。〃
The　energetic　speaker　was　Yuan　Shao；　son　of　the　former　Minister　of　the　Interior　Yuan　Feng　and　nephew　of　Imperial　Guardian　Yuan　Wei。　Yuan　Shao　then　held　the　rank　of　Imperial　mander。
He　Jin　mustered　five　thousand　royal　guards。　Yuan　Shao　put　on　plete　armor　and　took　mand。　He　Jin；　supported　by　He　Yong；　Xun　You；　Zheng　Tai；　and　more　than　thirty　other　ministers　and　high…rank　officials；　went　into　the　Palace。　In　the　hall　where　lay　the　coffin　of　the　late　Emperor；　they　placed　Liu　Bian　on　the　throne。　After　the　ceremony　was　over　and　all　had　bowed　before　the　new　Emperor；　Yuan　Shao　went　in　to　arrest　Eunuch